Seahawks’ win cuts into idle 49ers’ NFC West lead

The 49ers’ bye weekend featured mixed results from its two leading NFC West rivals — plus a beneficial loss by the New York Giants regarding potential NFC playoff seedings.

By virtue of a 30-20 home win over the Minnesota Vikings, the Seattle Seahawks cut the 49ers’ division lead to 1 1/2 games. Earlier Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals were sent into their bye week after suffering a fifth consecutive defeat, 31-17 at Green Bay.

The NFC West standings: 49ers (6-2), Seahawks (5-4), Cardinals (4-5) and the St. Louis Rams (3-5).

The 49ers’ moved up the conference standings when the New York Giants (6-3) lost 24-20 at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Only the Atlanta Falcons (7-0 prior to Sunday night’s game) and Chicago Bears (7-1) have better records than the 49ers in the NFC.

Advertisement

The Rams also were idle this weekend, having lost last Sunday in London as hosts to the New England Patriots. That 45-7 defeat to New England marked the Rams’ third consecutive defeat.

The 49ers host the Rams next Sunday at Candlestick Park. The 49ers won both of last season’s meetings against the Rams in coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season. Also of note, the 49ers came out of last season’s bye with a 20-10 home win over the Cleveland Browns, marking the fifth win of an eight-game win streak.

The Seahawks’ win Sunday improved them to 4-0 at home. The 49ers will visit Seattle on Dec. 23.

The 49ers’ players are due to report back Tuesday from a six-day hiatus. Harbaugh will address the media at noon Monday.

Post navigation

I think the Seattle win helps the Niners as much as it hurts them. It puts a team with a tie-breaker on the 49ers in a little deeper hole. Seattle isn’t much of a road team. And that eventually makes “all the difference.” Go Niners!

Red and Gold

Rest up boys!

snsf49loyal

49ers have to take care of their end of business by winning and keeping the right attitude. It does not matter what Seattle does if the niners keep wining the key games. Seattle is bound to loose some games away from home; they can’t win on the road.

ajay

i think 12th man of seattle actually hurt them.

they are getting used to have great support at home and when they go on the road its a big shock for hawks.

i dont trust hawks yet just because of their road performance is one of the most pathetic one.

i do want to see our D trash 49rs just like they smack mouth us when we were at SF.

- hawk fan.

Kuni

Beat the bears!!!!

Ceadderman

Meh, I don’t think we really care about Seattle now having beaten them at Home. Depending on the rest of the schedule, the December 23rd Game should be meaningless. Sure it would be great to get the Win again but it really shouldn’t matter. Seattle is tough at Home but that’s half their season. It’s what they do on the Road that counts.

Nobody

The goal should be this simple: win the division. To make that goal simple: win all division games.

John C

San Francisco 49ers have put them in a good position in the standings; their two losses didn’t mount up into more losses which was very important in determining their playoff chances. The 49ers should be 7-1 or even 8-0 but going 14-0 is worse if you lose in the NFC championship game. The Green Bay Packers went without losing until it was time for the championship game, then they lost. It is better to “give a little” then exhaust all of your energy in “taking it all.”

The 49ers are a playoff contender team but what remains to see, a Super Bowl winner. If they keep winning and then finish strong in the playoffs, a Super Bowl berth are theirs.

The question remains, will the 49ers finish with a better record than last year’s 3 losses in the regular season?

According to the news, Alex Smith says the 49ers are playing better than last year.

The win/loss record at end of the NFL season will prove Alex right or wrong.

I am entitled to believe that Alex is right.

Great Ed

The San Francisco 49ers will be at least the #2 seed on the NFC! I still think they have a good chance at the no.1 seed with a 12-4 record. Go 49ers!!!

mglt6710

As much as I wish the Niners to go farther this year, the offense STILL has not shown that it can go against really, really good defenses that pretty much shut down the Niners’ running game. Smith really does need to learn to make quicker decisions; either throw the damn ball away or (preferably) show some athleticism and run himself out of trouble, and this will be especially important in the Chicago game. Da Bears are on a roll. I know our D can take care of that pompous jerk Cutler.

The three big challenges for the Niners, going forward, will be Chicago, Miami (who looked really good even in their loss this past weekend) and New England. The other teams, IMO, are “handle-able” by the Niners’ killer D.

snsf49loyal

@ # 9 -> I agree, I have also noticed that at times Alex Smith (as good as he has become), he still ‘stares’ at his target receivers too long tipping the DBs, he has also been known to miss wide open guys (such as Moss) on several occasions. Like you mentioned in your comments, he needs to make quick throws or simply run with it; that will add another complexion to the game. At least it will keep the opposing D honest.

http://Henothing DaHawn49er

The last game he was looking right then look left to see Moss, Watch how long he looked at Moss then trow another short pass to him, It took forever to trow the ball, Way too slow.